Sealing closure for bottles and other containers



Jan. 19, 1960 c. A. TOLSON SEALING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 6, 1957 United States Patent SEALING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES AND OTHER CONTAINERS Clyde A. Tolson, Washington, D.C.

Application August 6, 1957, Serial No. 676,691 4 Claims. (Cl. 215-37 A further object of the invention is to provide a con- 'tainer seal, such asa bottle cap, which may be manually opened and rescaled a number of times, and which in the sealed condition will maintain a hermetic seal under pressure conditions normally encountered in the carbonated beverage field.

Still another object of this invention is to provide container caps having the above-described features when used with existing types of containers, without the necessity for a new or special type of cooperating container or container aperture.

With the foregoing general objects in View, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements of features as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein are illustrated different, non-limiting, practical embodiments of the invention, and wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in related views:

Figure 1 is an oblique general view of one embodiment of the invention shown in the sealed position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a partial cutaway side projection thereof;

Figure 5 is a partial cutaway view of the embodiment of Figure 1 showing detail of locking cam engagement with container, the cutaway section being taken along dotted radial shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 shown in the unsealed position;

Figure 7 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 8 is a side projection thereof;

Figure 9 is an intermediate side projection thereof;

Figure 10 is an exploded view showing enlarged detailed construction and assembly of the embodiment of Figure 1.

In the drawings, the sealing closure is designated generaliy by 10 and the containe generally by 11.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1 through 10, there is illustrated one embodiment of the invention, a specially designed seal 17 consisting of a substantially cylindrical cap 18, the closed end of which is lined with resilient sealing member 19, and a movable locking handle 20 hinged to the periphery of cap 18 at hinge 21. In Figure 10 wherein are shown enlarged exploded details of the hinge and locking handle construction, 22 designates the tion.

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cap bearing of binge 21=and 23 designates the handle bearingof hinge 21. Bearing 22 preferably is formed from the integral tongue of material cut from aperture 25. 1 However, this bearing alternatively may be separately formed and attached to cap 18 in any desired manner, as for example spot welding. Handle 20 is provided with locking cam 24, preferably formed as shown from integral tongue of material between portions of bearing 23. Upon assembly, movement of handle 20 around the axis'of hinge pin 28 permits cam 24 to enter aperture 25-and project internally within the cap 18.

Referring now to. Figures 2 through 5 it will be seen that with handle 20 in the closed or sealed position 'cam 24 engages the annular bead 26 of container 11. In addition, fixed lugs 27 are formed on cap 18 and likewise engage container bead 26. Lugs 27 preferably are formed by indenting the material of cap 18, but may be formed in any other desired manner. Thus, the combined engagement of cam 24 and lugs 27 with container bead 26 serves to hold resilient lining member 19 firmly against container opening, thereby providing the desired hermetic seal. Referring now to Figures 6 through 9, it will be apparent that as handle 20 is moved to the release or unsealed position shown, cam 24 is withdrawn through aperture 25 from engagementwith container bead 26, thereby permitting-the hinged'side of cap 18 to be released and lifted from container opening, and hence permitting complete removal of the cap from the container. The surfaces of lugs 27 and cam 24 engaging bead 26 are beveled as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5 respectively for the purpose of drawing cap 18 and resilient lining 19 more tightly against the container opening as cam 24 progressively penetrates more deeply under bead 26 with the progressive movement of handle 20 to the closed posi- Thus, the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 10 provides a hermetic closure applicable to existing containers, and capable of easy manual removal and rescaling without the aid of auxiliary opening or rescaling devices.

While only certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described to convey the general concept of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is readily capable of various other embodiments within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A resealable container closure for closing a container of the type having an annular bead surrounding the container opening comprising a substantially cylindrical cap closed at one end with at least one portion of the cap projecting centrally from one side of said cap for engaging said annular bead surrounding container opening, said cap being provided with an aperture completely surrounded by a cylindrical area of said cap, a movable handle hinged on the outer periphery of said cap at a point opposing said centrally projecting portion adjacent said aperture, a locking cam formed on said handle, said cam in operating position projecting through said aperture for engaging said annular bead whenever said handle is moved to the sealing position, and for disengaging said annular bead whenever said handle is moved to the unsealing position, and a resilient cap lining member to be held firmly against said container opening by said cap upon simultaneous engagement of said bead by said centrally projecting portion and said locking cam, the axis of rotation of said movable handle being substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical cap, said handle being shaped to conform closely in the sealing position to the cylindrical surface of said cap and having its smallest cross-sectional dimension normal to the axis of said hinge, and said cylindrical'surface of said cap extending below said bead throughout its circumference.

2. A resealable container closure for closing a container of the type having an annular bead surrounding the container opening comprising a cap body having a Icomjplete substantially cylindrical Wall closed at one end, said cylindrical wall extending below said bead at all points around its circumference, at least one portion of said cylindrical wall projecting centrally for engaging under said annular bead, said cylindrical wall opposing said centrally projecting portion being provided with a substantially rectangular aperture and said aperture being completely surrounded by a continuous unbroken area of said cylindrical wall, a tongue memberintegral with said cylindrical wall and consisting of the portion of said'cylindrical wall removed from said aperture and bent externally back upon itself to form a hinge bearing along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical wall, handle means hinged upon said hinge bearing for movement between sealing and unsealing posi tions and shapedto conform closely in sealing position to said cylindrical wall over the greater part of the extent of said handle means, said'handle means further including an integral locking cam projecting through said aperture for engaging said annular bead whenever said handle is moved to the sealing position and for disengaging said annular bead whenever said handle is moved to the unsealing position, and a resilient cap'body lining member to be held firmly against said container opening by said cap body upon simultaneous engagement of said 4 head by said centrally projecting portion and said locking cam.

3. A resealable container closure as set forth in claim 2, in which said cap body and said handle means are formed from sheet stock and in which said locking cam is formed from an integral tongue of said stock folded back upon itself at least one time.

4. A resealable container closure as set forth in claim 2 in which said locking cam isteccentric relative to said hinge bearing axis and is so orientedthat its maximum radius is moved at least to dead center upon movement of said handle means to the sealing position, and in which said locking cam further has for engaging the underside of said bead an engagement face which is beveled with respect to said hinge bearing axis, whereby upon movement of said handle means to the sealing position, said eccentric cam pulls said centrally projecting portion of the wall under said bead, and said beveled engagement face pulls said cap body in a direction'substantially'parallel to said hinge bearing axis.

' References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 1936 

